Dragging my battered suitcase behind me, I stepped into the cool Korean air, grinning like an idiot.

"Finally!" I whispered to myself. "South Korea! The land of manhwa, K-dramas, and endless inspiration. Now I can finally get some fresh ideas for a one-person leveling novel!"

(Well, solo leveling was already taken. Copyright, you know.)

After breezing through customs, I did what any normal person would do when setting foot in a new country:

I spent the day eating tteokbokki from street stalls, getting addicted to a PC bang, and completely forgetting why I came here in the first place.

Somewhere between burning my tongue on spicy rice cakes and losing a dozen matches in an online game, I stumbled onto a huge, sleek building.

Seoul National University, it said in bold letters across the front gate.

"Writer's Seoul National University..." I muttered aloud, squinting.

A strange feeling prickled the back of my neck. Was this a sign?

Maybe somewhere here… my next novel's story would be born?

Excited, I wandered the campus streets, soaking in the atmosphere, jotting random notes like:

Handsomer rival who beats the MC in a cooking contest?

Magical library under the school?

A weird love triangle involving tteokbokki?

I was deep in thought when I heard it.

A shout so loud it snapped me out of my brainstorming.

"YOU'RE the one!" a girl's voice yelled.

"No, YOU'RE the one!" a boy shouted back.

Curiosity pulled me like a fishing line.

I followed the noise to a courtyard where two students were standing, facing each other with intense expressions.

I blinked.

"Wow, people in Korea sure are dramatic," I thought, half-turning to leave —

—until I heard them shout again.

"You confessed to me FIRST!"

"No, YOU confessed to ME FIRST!"

And just like that —

A surge of electricity zipped through my spine, jolting straight to my brain.

I gasped.

STORY!!!

I fumbled for my pen and notebook, almost dropping them in my excitement.

Without thinking, I marched straight up to the arguing pair.

"Excuse me!" I said, my voice full of the energy of a man who had just discovered gold. "You two seem like adults. What exactly are you fighting about?"

Both of them paused mid-argument, glaring at me like I was some weirdo who had crashed their party.

Together, they said, "Who are you?"

I beamed. "Ah, introduction time! I’m Phoenix Hart, a novelist."

They exchanged a glance.

"...Never heard that name," they said in unison.

Internally, I twitched.

Ouch... right in the pride.

Out loud, I forced a smile. "I’m not super famous. Yet. I’ve only published one novel: The Masked Virtuoso. The main character is a little... too powerful," I admitted, scratching my head.

The boy adjusted his tie smoothly. "I’m Kang Joon-Woo."

Something about his name tickled my brain.

Where have I heard that before? I wondered.

The girl flipped her red hair elegantly and said, "I’m Park Ae-cha."

I nodded, pretending to stay calm but inside screaming, These names... they're main character material!

"Now," I said, flipping open my notebook, "what exactly are you two arguing about?"

Joon-Woo crossed his arms. "This unbelievable girl confessed to me first."

Immediately, Park Ae-cha shot back, "He confessed to me first!"

I raised both hands in a peace gesture. "Alright, alright, let’s settle this the writer way. I’ll listen to both sides and decide. But I want the WHOLE story. From the very beginning.

No spoilers."

They hesitated, then reluctantly nodded.

And just like that, the flashback began.

---

To be continued...